Reps. Carter, Mace Introduce Bill to Mitigate Floods

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-Sc.) reintroduced the bipartisan Veterans Affairs (V.A.) Flood Preparedness Act. This bill would empower the VA to work directly with local governments on flood mitigation projects that secure safe and reliable access to critical care facilities for veterans and provide Congress with a better understanding of the flood risk facing these essential public health assets.

"In southeast Louisiana we know the power and disruption that storms and floods can bring all too well," said Rep. Carter. "After Hurricane Katrina, the V.A. Center in New Orleans flooded badly, shutting down operations at this critical site. This bill will help position V.A. centers across the country so that they can better partner with local authorities on flooding studies to better identify the shortcomings of the past and shore up facilities to serve veterans for generations to come."

“For years, veterans have been significantly impeded from accessing the Ralph H. Johnson V.A. Medical Center in Charleston due to constant flooding on the adjacent street and in the parking lot. This is in a very vulnerable area for flooding and the city is limited in what they can do to mitigate the problems because the facility is federal,” said Rep. Mace. “This bill will increase collaboration between local authorities and the V.A. so the V.A. can participate in and make certain contributions to local authorities to mitigate the risk of flooding on roads adjacent to their facilities.”